'No change' after top-level meeting

A meeting in Brussels between EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and Environment Minister George Pullicino yesterday yielded no breakthrough in the deadlock over spring hunting.

Commission sources told The Times spring hunting was the main item discussed. "Nothing has changed" as a result of the meeting, the sources added.

"The Commissioner reiterated to Mr Pullicino the Commission's already known stand on the issue.

"We have already started infringement procedures against Malta because we deem hunting in spring breaches EU rules. Following yesterday's meeting our position remains the same," the sources said.

On his part, Mr Pullicino refused to comment. A spokesman confirmed that spring hunting together with a number of other topics were raised.

"We do not, however, wish to divulge any information on what has been said during the meeting".

The spokesman denied that the meeting was arranged at the eleventh hour, saying it was planned "a long time ago".

The government and the Commission are at loggerheads over spring hunting.

While the EU executive insists that a derogation under the Birds Directive and being invoked by the government to allow spring hunting is not justified, the government holds an opposite view.

In an interview with The Times last week, Mr Dimas made it clear the continuation of spring hunting in Malta is no-go.

Derogations, he said are only permitted if the conditions providing for them are met. The main condition is that spring hunting becomes possible if no sufficient alternatives exist. According to Mr Dimas, the Commission has found there are sufficient alternatives in autumn and, so, the use of a derogation by Malta is not justified.

The government begs to differ and is willing to go as far as the European Court of Justice to make its case.

Two weeks ago, the EU executive stepped up its legal action against Malta on the matter and has given the island one month in which to reply to its claim that it is breaching the EU Birds directive.

Malta has to reply by April 21.